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P501 PVW

1997 Mazda MX-5

Green Petrol 1839cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires25 Jun 2027
Tests18 (13 pass, 5 fail)
Pass rate72.2%

Mileage

113,683 mi
Last recorded113,683 miles
Recorded on25 Jun 2026
Typical for 1997 Mazda MX-585,711 mi

Above average mileage for this year

4 checks still locked for this Mazda
Stolen
Finance
Write-off
Keepers
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Vehicle Details

RegistrationP501 PVW
MakeMazda
ModelMX-5
Year1997
ColourGreen
Fuel typePetrol
Engine1,839cc

All premium checks include

50+ data points
Finance Check (Experian) Insurance Write-off Salvage Auction Stolen Check Previous Owners Ex-Taxi, Police, NHS Mileage Anomaly Import / Export Scrapped Check Plate Changes

MOT History

13 pass 5 fail
Pass 25 Jun 2026 113,683 miles

Exhaust noisy (8.1.1 (a))

Front Suspension arm corroded but not seriously weakened (5.3.3 (b) (i))

Oil leak, but not excessive (8.4.1 (a) (i))

Rear Shock absorbers has light misting of oil Both side (5.3.2 (b))

Rear Suspension arm corroded but not seriously weakened (5.3.3 (b) (i))

Pass 26 Jun 2025 112,885 miles
Fail 24 Jun 2025 112,874 miles

Horn not working (7.7 (a))

Nearside Front Headlamp aim too low (4.1.2 (a))

Offside Front Headlamp aim too low (4.1.2 (a))

Offside Front Service brake excessively binding (1.2.1 (f))

Offside Rear Registration plate lamp inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources (4.7.1 (b) (i))

Pass 10 Jul 2023 111,106 miles

Nearside Rear Wheel bearing has slight play (5.1.3 (a) (i))

Offside Rear Wheel bearing has slight play (5.1.3 (a) (i))

Fail 30 Jun 2023 110,957 miles

Nearside Front Headlamp aim too low (4.1.2 (a))

Offside Front Headlamp aim too low (4.1.2 (a))

Nearside Rear Wheel bearing has slight play (5.1.3 (a) (i))

Offside Rear Wheel bearing has slight play (5.1.3 (a) (i))

Pass 8 Jul 2022 108,801 miles
Pass 11 May 2021 106,075 miles
Pass 7 May 2013 105,759 miles
Pass 18 Jun 2012 104,222 miles
Pass 21 Jun 2011 100,871 miles
Fail 17 Jun 2011 100,868 miles

Offside Outer Rear Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is excessively corroded (5.2.6)

Pass 18 May 2010 99,522 miles
Pass 21 Apr 2009 95,728 miles

Centre Front Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases (7.1.2)

Nearside Rear brake disc slightly pitted (3.5.1h)

Offside Rear Vehicle structure has slight corrosion (6.1.A.1)

Offside Rear brake disc slightly pitted (3.5.1h)

Fail 8 May 2008 91,581 miles

Nearside Front Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively (8.2.2)

Offside Front Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively (8.2.2)

Pass 8 May 2008 91,581 miles
Pass 10 May 2007 86,086 miles

Offside Suspension component mounting prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive (2.4.A.3)

rear subframe rusty

Fail 10 May 2007 86,086 miles

Front Brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick (3.5.1g)

Nearside Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded (2.4.A.3)

Nearside Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively (8.2.2)

Offside Headlamp insecure (1.7.3)

Offside Suspension component mounting prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive (2.4.A.3)

Offside Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively (8.2.2)

Rear Brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick (3.5.1g)

rear subframe rusty

Pass 9 May 2006 79,176 miles

How Reliable is the Mazda MX-5?

Based on 2,502,760 MOT tests across 160,823 vehicles.

76.5%
Pass Rate
2,964
Miles/Year
36
Year Lifespan
160,823
On UK Roads

Top MOT Failure Points

Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is excessively corroded 44,475
Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm 41,962
Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively 35,980
Parking brake: efficiency below requirements 33,281
Brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick 32,722
Full Mazda MX-5 reliability report

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P501 PVW is a 1997 Mazda MX-5 in Green with a 1,839cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 18 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 72.2%.

Across all 1997 Mazda MX-5 models, the average MOT pass rate is 70.7% with a typical mileage of 85,711 miles. This particular vehicle has performed better than the average for its year.

The most common reason a Mazda MX-5 fails its MOT is seat belt anchorage prescribed area is excessively corroded, accounting for 44,475 recorded failures. If you're considering buying P501 PVW, it's worth having these areas checked by a mechanic before committing.

The Mazda MX-5 typically stays on UK roads for around 36 years. At 29 years old, this Mazda MX-5 is approaching the upper end of the typical lifespan for this model.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I check the history of P501 PVW?

You can check the full history of P501 PVW by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was P501 PVW registered?

P501 PVW is a 1997 Mazda MX-5, first registered on 19 April 1997.

Is P501 PVW safe to buy?

The MOT history for P501 PVW shows 18 tests with a 72.2% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does P501 PVW have outstanding finance?

Finance checks require a premium vehicle report. This checks against all major UK finance providers to see if there is any outstanding finance on P501 PVW. If you buy a car with outstanding finance, the finance company can repossess it.

No warranty or guarantee of accuracy is provided for any free data on this page. The data guarantee applies only to information obtained through the purchase of a full check.